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I've been painting as long as I can recall. Started out with the paint-by-number as a kid, and progressed into painting my first "real" painting (without numbers) when I was 16. Although I have had some art-education, I consider myself "self-taught." Painting is something you can do until your hand cannot hold a brush anymore, and there are artists who paint with their mouth or with their feet holding a brush, because their hands are not available to them. So, see, there is no excuse for not trying.

Oh, I know, how many times have I heard, "I couldn't paint. I can't even draw a straight line"? Well, good news! You do not have to draw a straight line to paint! Although drawing is helpful, and any teaching along those lines may put you a little ahead, drawing is NOT an absolute necessity.

I would love to teach you to paint. I teach private lessons and classroom lessons at the Coastal Carolina Waccamaw Continuing Education Center in Litchfield, SC, 4, 6 and 8 week courses. I believe you will learn to paint if you attend one of my classes, and if you don't come away painting, I can guarantee you, you will have fun! The price of the course is very reasonable and the supplies are kept to a minimum. You will be introduced to color theory, palette knife painting, oil painting, brush work and, if you are already familiar with painting beyond the basics, I will share with you the secrets I have discovered from my painting experience, and perhaps you will pick up a nugget you have not incorporated in your work before.

Painting, ah... The people I have enjoyed teaching tell me how they don't know what they would be doing say, "after retirement," or for themselves besides the everyday grind and the necessary requirements of their everyday world, had they not started painting. Not only is painting fun and challenging, but you meet the nicest people as an artist.

I recall when I first called myself an "artist." That word was a little to big for me, until I realized that if I don't call myself an artist, who will? Then, I really began to put the pedal to the metal! Okay, then, here I go. Can't say I'm something I'm not, right? Well, don't want to anyway. It wasn't hard to say this, however, as I cannot recall not loving to pick up a brush and see what happens.

"Oh, I'm too old to paint now." Don't try using that with me either. Colonel Sanders of Kentucy Fried Chicken didn't get going until he was 65. Moses (the one in the Bible) didn't start until he was 80. Good grief, what else you got to do? Life IS! Enjoy right now! And, if you don't want to paint, sing, or walk and listen to the birds sing, or tell stories, or write, but forget this "old age" business. That's only for old folks!

Well, I've shared my excitement about painting. Be watching blog, as I will begin giving out little tidbits of info for you as an artist, or a beginner, or one just thinking about painting - even a little bit. Painting opens your eyes to see colors you haven't seen before. Really! Painting helps you look at your world differently, and it is "your world," you know. Can't be anybody else's world. You yourself see your world every moment, and no body else does that! Only you can see "your world." Paint it! Enjoy it and, for goodness sakes, get off excuses! Sittin' on a pile of "can'ts" - won't. Start looking at the world around you. Look at the colors, besides and beyond black and white, gray and brown. Start seeing "in living color"!

Go on my website "janewoodward.com" or the "fineartamerica.com" website and look up my work. Enjoy and get in touch!

For now ~

Jane

Jane